- Matchup: Wisconsin Badgers vs Minnesota Golden Gophers
- Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
- Venue: Kohl Center, Madison, WI
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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This Wednesday, the Kohl Center will host an exciting matchup as the Wisconsin Badgers (14-6) take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-10).
The Golden Gophers recently squared off against Nebraska, finishing with a disappointing 76-57 loss. In this contest, Minnesota committed 11 personal fouls while Nebraska notched 17. The Gophers made 9 of 28 from three-point range, while Nebraska excelled at the free-throw line, going 9 for 9. Nebraska also dominated the boards, securing 36 rebounds (8 offensive, 28 defensive) without registering any blocks, and recorded 24 assists and 5 steals. Defensively, Minnesota allowed a field-goal percentage of 47.5%, with opponents shooting 29 of 61. The Gophers logged 19 assists and forced 7 turnovers while also collecting 26 rebounds, including 3 offensive. From the charity stripe, they converted 6 of 12 attempts for a success rate of 50.0%, finishing with a field goal percentage of 39.6% (21 of 53) and a three-point shooting percentage of 29.0% (9 of 31).
Bobby Durkin was a key player for Minnesota, contributing 16 points on 6 of 13 shooting in 37 minutes of play. He also recorded 2 rebounds and 2 assists while shooting 46.2% from the field.
With a record of 10-10, Minnesota has averaged 72.1 points per game, ranking 286th in the nation, while achieving a field goal percentage of 45.1%. The team has a three-point shooting percentage of 32.6% (158 of 484) and a free-throw success rate of 69.3%. Minnesota averages 34.0 rebounds and boasts 363 assists on the season, ranking 26th overall in college basketball in team assists. The Gophers average 10.9 turnovers and commit 16.2 fouls per game.
On the defensive front, the Gophers are successful in forcing 11.4 turnovers per game while surrendering an average of 18.8 personal fouls. They rank 212th in Division 1 for assists allowed, totaling 280 on the season. Minnesota’s defense allows a field goal success rate of 42.7% (482 of 1,129) and gives up around 33.3 rebounds per game, allowing 33.5% from beyond the arc and ranking 55th in PPG allowed with an average of 68.5.
Wisconsin’s last game ended in a narrow defeat, falling 73-71 to USC. They allowed USC to pull down 38 rebounds (with 12 offensive). Wisconsin struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 25.0% (6 of 24) but managed 17 successful free throws out of 23 attempts, resulting in a 73.9% free-throw rate. USC converted 25 of 61 shots in this match, shooting 41.0%. The Badgers, conversely, shot 23 of 67 from the floor for 34.3% and hit 9 of their 37 three-point attempts (24.3%). Wisconsin capitalized on 20 trips to the free-throw line due to USC’s 15 fouls. They committed 6 turnovers while recording 3 steals, synthesizing a total of 38 rebounds.
Nick Boyd was instrumental for Wisconsin, scoring 29 points during his 38 minutes of play, shooting 58.8% (10 of 17) with 3 assists and 6 rebounds.
With a current record of 14-6, Wisconsin commits 18.1 fouls per game and boasts a free-throw percentage of 77.4%. They provide assists 16.1 times per game, placing them 81st nationally and average just 9.8 turnovers. The Badgers have registered a total of 1,672 points this season, averaging 83.6 points per game, and they pull down 37.3 rebounds per match. Wisconsin shoots 45.2% from the field, ranking 191st in the nation.
Defensively, Wisconsin permits 32.1% shooting from three-point range (152 of 473) and allows their opponents to convert 72.4% from the free-throw line. They average 13.3 assists allowed and 33.9 rebounds per game, ranking 176th and 152nd, respectively. Wisconsin is 226th in Division 1 for points allowed per game, yielding 75.3 PPG. They induce an average of 10.5 turnovers from their opponents and allow a shooting percentage of 43.8% (ranking 186th nationally).
Which team will cover the spread in tonight’s NCAA game?
Prediction: Back Wisconsin to cover
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